Great Villas
Timanfaya – The active volcano
The Timanfaya or the Fire Mountains are part of an extensive area affected by a series of volcanic eruptions that took place in Lanzarote between 1730 and 1736 and later on in 1824.
This long series of eruptions was one of the most important and spectacular in the Earth’s history. They drastically changed the shape of the island, leaving almost a quarter of the island under a thick blanket of lava and ash.
The landscape produced by volcanic activity covers an area of 67 square miles (174 Km). The area protected as Timanfaya National Park covers a surface of just 20 square miles (51 Km), which is where the most important eruptions occurred.
The perimeter of the main eruption area is made up by extensive surfaces of rugged “aa” lava flows (malpaises) and “Pahoe-hoe” or rope lava flows, which have had only minimal human alteration.
This, together with the unique climate of the island, has allowed the original volcanic landscape to remain practically unaltered. And like this created an authentic laboratory to study and research the colonization processes of local flora and fauna.
This long series of eruptions was one of the most important and spectacular in the Earth’s history. They drastically changed the shape of the island, leaving almost a quarter of the island under a thick blanket of lava and ash.
The landscape produced by volcanic activity covers an area of 67 square miles (174 Km). The area protected as Timanfaya National Park covers a surface of just 20 square miles (51 Km), which is where the most important eruptions occurred.
The perimeter of the main eruption area is made up by extensive surfaces of rugged “aa” lava flows (malpaises) and “Pahoe-hoe” or rope lava flows, which have had only minimal human alteration.
This, together with the unique climate of the island, has allowed the original volcanic landscape to remain practically unaltered. And like this created an authentic laboratory to study and research the colonization processes of local flora and fauna.